Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
(1 Peter 4:10)

Just wanted to take a moment to reflect and give thanks for all the people who are serving and sacrificing for our new church home.Continue reading→

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16, ESV)

I was thinking the other day about our move to the new building. What will be needed before we move?  What changes will happen? How everything will need to be finely coordinated.  The new ministry opportunities we will now have. It’s exciting and a tad overwhelming to think of all the different responsibilities that will come with it.Continue reading→

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

When I look at my Christmas tree, I can say a few truths about it. It has lights and a tree topper. There are no ornaments on it except a few swirls of ribbon. It is perfectly simple and beautiful to me. Others may look at it and think it is undone. Others may think I am lazy and did not want to climb through the dust in the garage to find the boxes that contain the ornaments. Others may judge that it is not a “real” Christmas tree because it happens to be artificial. Others may be happy that I didn’t kill a live tree.Continue reading→

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10, ESV)

There it is again: Be still. I grew up in a household in which being still was equated with laziness, and laziness was a very very bad thing. Sleeping in, sitting down, watching TV, reading a book, were all things that were only to be enjoyed if absolutely every task you were assigned was completed and completed accurately.Continue reading→

Have you ever thought about what it takes to put on a Sunday service?  Just like the early church, our church is primarily “run” by volunteers. I just wanted to take a moment to thank the incredibly generous people who contribute their time so that I can enjoy being fed spiritually every Sunday and during the week.Continue reading→

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9, NIV)

I am going to be honest. I found the apostle Paul quite annoying recently. First, he tells the Galatians to “not become weary in doing good.” Then he tells the Thessalonians something similar: “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good” (2 Thessalonians 3:13, NIV). When I was reading these passages, I wasn’t “tired.” I was exhausted! I didn’t want to do or be good. I didn’t want to be kind. I didn’t want to be loving nor patient, nor any of those other fruity things of the Spirit.Continue reading→

A season of sadness seems to be rolling through our church family. It happens every second of every day somewhere in the world, but it seems to have gathered and taken a toll on our little community of believers right here at Touchstone. Death. Crisis. Illness. Loss. I am incredibly grateful for my church family and the prayers of the saints. I am not sure how people do life without God and the support of the people He sends to us.Continue reading→

Christmas expectations: the perfect words at the perfect moment; the how-did-you-know look on someone’s face when they open the gift you took hours to find; the best tasting food ever; loving family conversations sitting around a fire; yourself looking fabulous in your outfit with not one roll showing; adorable little children in footie pajamas running up to you and grabbing your legs because you are their favorite person in the whole world; your entire list of people you love accepting Jesus because they suddenly realize that he is the true gift of Christmas.

I don’t know about you, but I have never ever experienced a Christmas like I just listed. I am a Christian. So I am supposed to treasure this season, right? Unfortunately, I am still quite in human form and often struggle this time of year, especially if I let my head wander to a list of expectations.Continue reading→

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8, ESV)

When I look at that scripture, it makes me feel a few different ways. First, sharing “me” is, well… risky. It denotes developing a closer relationship to another person that I don’t necessarily find comfortable. They may reject me somehow. At the same time, while it may be risky, it’s something that I sincerely desire. I can only speak from a female perspective but I suspect men feel similar, just maybe not as “gushy” about it. I long for that bonding with another person on a deeper level.Continue reading→